Senate rejects bipartisan gun control measure for background checks despite broad public support

The US Senate today turned away a bipartisan proposal to expand background checks for the sale of guns, signaling a huge defeat for President Obama’s administration and Congressional Democrats. The 54-46 vote fell short of the 60 votes needed to pass the measure, with just four Republicans voting in favor. But the amendment was hurt even more by the president’s own party; several Democratic senators, who could have carried the bill to passage, rejected the background check amendment: including Mark Begich (D, AK), Max Baucus (D, MT), Mark Pryor (D, AR), Dean Heller (D, NV), Richard Burr (D, NC), and Kelly Ayotte (D, NH).